Dispensing container having a gravity operated closure



April 29, 1947. L. FRANK 2,419,769

DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A GRAVITY OPERATED CLOSURE Filed June 12, 1943 3 T v 32 if ham-Ill F x Z1 2/ 1 r Q/ l .0

. 1N VENTOR. 40* 0/6 F/P/eM Patented Apr. 29, 1947 UNITED STATES PATENT orricr. j

" DISPENSING CONTAINER HAVING A GRAVITY OPERATED CLOSURE Louis Frank, Fellows, Calif;

Application June 12, 1943, Serial No. 490,596

My invention relates toa dispensing container and has for its principal object,- to provide a simple, practical and inexpensive container having a removable cap or cover provided with a discharge opening normally closed by a gravity member such as a small spherical member which, when the container is moved into position to permit the contents to discharge, rolls away from said opening, so as to not interfere with the free flow of material or product from the container.

Further objects of my invention are, to provide a dispensing container referred to which is especially advantageous in dispensing relatively light or thin liquids Such as milk and cream, vinegar, olive and vegetable oils, liquid soap and the like, also for finely pulverized substances such as sugar, salt, soap and cleansing powders and further, to provide a dispensing device wherein the container and cap or head may be easily and quickly cleansed.

A further object of my invention is to provide simple means which may be removably positioned in the discharge duct in the head or cap, for restricting the flow of material or product from the container.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, my invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts that will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved dispensing container.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of the upper portion of the container.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on the line 55 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of the upper portion of the container and showing same in a contents dispensing position.

Fig, '7 is a plan view of a modified construction.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on the line 88 of Fig. '7.

Referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings which illustrate a preferred embodiment of my invention. l0 designates a container of any desired size, and shape and preferably formed of glass, plastics or the like. Formed on the upper end of this container around its mouth is an external thread I I.

1 Claim. (01. 222-500) Engaging thread u is theinternally-"threaded flange l2 of a cap or closure l3,"preferalbl'y formed in a single piece, from plasticmaterial and projecting upwardlyand outwardly from the top of said cap is a spout' I 4.

y, I'he outer end of spout i4 is normally closed by a gravity disc 15, hinged tothe upper outer end of the spout as designated by Hi. The bottom of the duct I! through the spout communicates with an aperture l8 formed in the center of cap I3 and formed around said aperture is a seat I9 for a ball 28 which maybe formed of stainless steel, glass, porcelain, plastic or other CQIflpOsi-r tion.

Formed integral with the top or cap l3 is an upwardly projecting wall 2| which surrounds aperture l8 and therear portion of duct l1 and formed on the lower portions of the inner faces of the sides of this wall, are longitudinally disposed inclined shoulders 22 which extend from seat H] to the front portion of the chamber within wall 2| above duct l1. Thus, when the container is tilted forward, ball 20 will roll forwardly on the shoulders 22, to a position in the front end of the chamber within wall 2|, with the greater portion of said ball positioned above duct 11.

Formed through the lower rear portion of wall 2| is a small air vent 23 which is closed by ball 20, while same is on its seat.

A plate 24 of metal, plastic or the like, closes the chamber within wall 2|, the rear end of said plate being pivoted on a pin or screw 25, seated on the top of the rear portion of said wall and a depending hook 26, on the forward end of said plate, engages in a transversely disposed slot 21 formed in the front face of said wall to maintain said plate in closed position.

A circular portion near the forward end of plate 24 is pressed upwardly and its upper face milled or corrugated to form a lug or projection 28 adapted to be engaged by the thumb or finger when opening and closing said plate.

Under normal conditions with the container standing in an upright position, ball 20 rests on its seat l9, thus closing outlet opening [8 and air inlet duct 23 and thus the contents of the container are protected against air, moisture,

dust and the like.

To dispense a portion of the contents of the container the receptacle is tilted forward until ball 20 leaves its seat I9 and travels forwardly and downwardly on the shoulders 20 thus permitting all or a portion of the contents to flow through opening l8 and then forwardly through duct 11 beneath the elevated ball, and as the container is tilted forward, plate l5, by gravity swings outwardly away from the end of spout l4 thus permitting the material or product to discharge from said spout as illustrated in Fig. 6.

As the container is tilted back to an upright position, ball 20 will roll back onto its seat 23 and plate i 5 will swing back onto the end of the spout 'to loloseduct l1. 'VVhen the ball is off its seat, air is free to flow through duct 23.

The modification illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 includes a block 29 which is removably positioned in the forward end of the chamber surrounded by wall 2|, and said block having a depending lug 30 which extends into and partially closed duct l1, thus restricting the flow of product therethrough. Such construction is more particularly intended for use in controlling the flow of vinegar and other waterlike liquids.

To maintain the plug'in position for use, ears 3|, project-outwardly from the upperportions of-zthe sides of saidplug intonotches 32 formed lIl'Wa-II-ZL; I

Thus it -will-be seen that I have provided a dispensing container which is simple in structure, inexpensive of manufacture and very effective in penformingthe functions for which it is intended.

:It will be understood that minor changes in the size, form and construction of the various parts of my improved'dispensing container may be made and substituted-for those herein-shown and described Without departing from the spirit of the invention, thescope of which is set forth in the appended claim.

I claim as myinvention:

In a dispensing container, a-receptacle, a removable cover therefonsaid cover having a centrally arranged outlet-opening surrounded by a seat for a ball valve, there being an air vent formed through said cover outwardly from said valve seat, an upwardly inclined spout leading radially outward from said opening, there being a chamber formed in said cover above and communicating with said spout, there being longitudinally disposed shoulders formed between said spout and said chamber, which shoulders are inclined with respect to the bottom of said spout with their inner ends located on the valve seat surrounding said opening, and their outer ends disposed above the outerflportionof said spout and a ball valve normally resting onsaid valve seat for simultaneously closing said outlet open- 'ing and air vent and which ball is adapted to traverse said inclined shoulders as the receptable is tilted forwardly and backwardly.

LOUIS FRANK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number 1 Name Date 7,

34,899 1 Newton Apr. 8, :1862 171,976 Bell '1 Jan. 11, 1876 649,394 Bonnette et al. May '8, 1900 773,237 Sternfels et al. Oct. 25, 904 803,860 Smith Nov. '7, 1905 890,634 Foote June 16, 1908 1,226,822 Smith May 22, 1917 1,261,321 Tomsany Apr. 2, 1918 1,304,800 Nowack May 27,1919 2,103,427 Long Dec. 28, 1937 2,141,160 Bloomfield Dec. 27, 1938 2,281,135 Becker Apr. 28, 1942 2,300,053 Lubic Oct. 27, 1942 2,306,309 Hall -1 Dec. '22, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 92,700 German 1897 

